Venetian blind



Feb. 1o, 1953 G. R. I IND' VENETIAN BLIND Filed Feb. 2:5, 1951 Patented Feb. l0, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

VENETIAN BLIND George R. Lind, St. Joseph, Mich.

Application February 23, 1951, Serial No. 212,397

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Venetian blinds.

` The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a Venetian blind bottom bar which may be quickly and easily connected to the suspending tapes of the ladder.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages which may be economically produced and at the same time is attractive in appearance and permits the disconnection of the bottom bar from the ladder tapes for laundering or cleaning or renewal of the tapes.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a Venetian blind embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View with the top bar member omitted.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, with the top member omitted, further illustrating the relation of certain of the parts, a fragment of a'ladder tape being shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clamp vmember.

In the accompanying drawing, I represents the slats of a Venetian blind and 2 2 the suspending tapes which are provided with slat supporting cross straps, not illustrated. These tapes 2-2 are preferably connected at their lower ends to provide a loop 3. The bottom bar of my invention designated generally by the numeral 4 comprises the bottom member 5 of curved upwardly facing channel section and having inturned anges 6 on its edges. The flanges 6 have slots 1 therein adapted to receive the tapes 2, the end edges of the slots being notched or conformed to provide keepers 8.

The tape clamp member 9 is formed as a sheet metal stamping and has downwardly offset upwardly facing U-shaped springable arms I on its side edges. The outer portions II of these arms are adapted to spring or snap under the keepersv 8. These arms are of such width that when the clamp member is disposed within the loop of the suspending tapes as shown in the drawing and the arms springably engaged with the keepers, the

tapes are clamped against the inner side ofi-thel bottom member 5. Howeven-if for any reason there is not effective clamping engagement be# tween the bottom member and the arms as is 5 indicated in the drawings, the tapes cannot Vbe withdrawn where the lower ends are connected to form the loop 3. ber is in the embodiment illustrated extended to provide a finger piece I2 which facilitates the r`e 10 leasing of the clamp. Y

The arms of the clamp areA provided-With in'" turned lugs I3 adapted to receive and'retaini'n'gly engage the top member I4 which is inthe emv F bodiment illustrated of downwardly facing curved 1@.section and may be sprung to engage with the-f lugs and is retained in engagement therewith byv its inherent springability.

The clamp member 9 is provided with a 'key-v hole slot I5 adapted to receive the suspending; cord I5, the cord I6 being provided with'aknot Il whi-ch may be passed through the enlarged part of the slot I5 and slipped under the Arestricted part of the slot. The top member I4 is provided with a cord receiving slot I8 which is aligned with.

urge them more securely to engaged position, the` flange engaging portion of the 'arms being inclined outwardly as shown in Fig. 4.

the bottom bar maybe quickly released' should occasion require as for cleaning or renewal of 40 the tapes. l I have illustrated my invention in a, highly practical commercial embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describey certain embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt'- my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I cl-aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes connected at their lower ends to provide a loop, of a bottom bar comprising a bottom member'of curved upwardly fac-y ing channel section-and' having Vinturned edge One arm of the clamp -mem- The load on the clamp member does notv The parts of my invention may be veryeconoe'- mically producedv and they are quickly 'assembled to secure the bottom bar to the ladder tapes and" flanges, said flanges having slots therein receiving the tapes with the loop thereof within the bottom member, the end edges of the slots being notched to provide inwardly facing keepers, a clamp member having downwardly off-set upwardly facing U-shaped springable tape clamping arms on its side edges disposed in said bottom member and within the loop of the tapes with its arms within said slots and in springable retaining. engagement with saidV keepers, said arms of said clamp member being provided with inturned lugs, one of said arms being extended to provide a finger piece projecting above the bottom member, said clamp member having a keyhole slot therein adapted to receive a suspending cord. and a top member of downwardly facing curved section disposed with its edges upon said inturned flanges of -said bottom member and springably engaged with said lugs on said clamp member, said top member having an opening aligned with the reduced end of said keyhole slot in said clamp member to receive the suspending cord and prevent its disengagement from the keyhole slot.

2. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes connected at. their lower ends to provide a loop, of a bottom bar comprising a bottom member of upwardly facing. channel -section having inturned edge flanges, said flanges having slots therein receiving the 'tapes with the loop thereof within the bottom member, the end edges of the slots being notched to. provide inwardly facing keepers, a clamp member having downwardly offset upwardly facingv U-shaped springable tape clamping arms on its side edges disposed in said bottom member and within the loop of thev tapes with its arms Within said slots and in springable retaining engagement with said keepers, said arms of said clamp member being provided with inturned lugs, said clamp member having a keyhole slot therein adapted to receive a suspending cord, and a top member of downwardly facing curved section vdisposed with its edges upon said inturned flanges of said bottom member and springably engaged with said lugs on said clamp member, said top member having an' opening aligned with the reduced end of said keyhole slot in said clamp member to receive the suspending cord and prevent its disengagementfrom the keyhole slot.

3. The combination in a Venetian blind including Slat-suspending tapes connected at their lower ends to provide a loop,` of a bottomv bar oomprising a bottom member of curved upwardly facingchannelsecton andA having inturned edge flanges, said flanges having slots thereinv receiving. the tapes with the loop thereof within the bottom member, the end edges. of the slots being notched to provide inwardly facing keepers, a clamp member having downwardly offset upwardly facing U-shaped springable tape `clamping arms on its side edges disposed in said bottom member and within the loop of the tapes with its arms within said slots and in springable retaining engagement with said keepers, said arms of said clamp member being provided with inturned lugs, one of said arms being extended to provide a nger piece projecting above the bottom member, and a top member disposed with its edges upon said inturned flanges of said bottom member and springably engaged with said lugs on said clamp member.

4. The combination in a Venetian blind includingslat suspending tapes connected at their lower ends to provide a loop, of a bottom bar comprising a bottom member of upwardly facing channel section having inturned edge flanges, said flanges having slots therein receiving the tapes with the loop thereof within the bottom member, the end edges of the slots being notched to provide inwardly facing keepers, a clamp member having downwardly offset upwardly facing U-shaped springable tape clamping arms on its side edges disposed in said bottom member and within the loop of the tapes with its arm-s within said slots and in springable retaining engagement with said keepers, said arms of said clamp member being provided with inturned lugs, and a top member disposed with its edges upon said inturned anges of said bottom member and springably engaged with said lugs on said clamp member.

5. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes connected at their lower ends to provide a loop, of a bottom bar comprising a bottom member of curved upwardly facing channel section and having inturned edge flanges, said flanges having slots therein receiving the tapes with the loop thereof within the bottom member, the end edges of the slots having inwardly facing keepers thereon, and a clamp member .having downwardly offset upwardly facing U-shaped springable tape clamping arms on its side edges disposed within the loop of the tapes with its arms within said slots and in springing retaining engagement with said keepers, one of said arms being extended to provide a linger piece projecting above the bottom member.

6. The combination in a Venetian blind including slat suspending tapes connected at their lower ends to provide a loop, of a bottom bar comprising a bottom member of curved upwardly facing channel section and having inturned edge flanges, said anges having slots therein receiving the tapes with the loop thereof within the bottom member, the end edges of the slots having inwardly facing keepers thereon, and a clamp member having downwardly oiset upwardly facing U-shaped springable tape clamping arms on its side edges disposed within the loop of the tapes with its arms within said slots and in. springing .retaining engagement with .said keepers.

7. A bottom bar for Venetian blinds including slat suspending tapes comprising a bottom member of upwardly facing channel section and having inturned edge anges, said flanges having tape receiving slots therein, the end edges of the slots being notched to provide inwardly facing keepers, a clamp member having downwardly offset springable tape clamping arms on its side edges disposed within said slots Vin springable retaining engagement with said keepers. the arms of said clamp member being provided with inturned lugs, said clamp member having a keyhole slotl therein adapted to receive a suspending cord, and a top member disposed upon said bottom member with its edges retainingly engaged with said lugs on said clamp member, said top member having a suspending :cord receiving opening aligned with the said slot in said clamp member, said top member acting 'to prevent the disengagement of the suspending cord from said clamp member.

8. A bottom bar for Venetian blinds including slat suspending tapes comprising a bottom-:member of upwardly facing channel section and having inturned edge flanges, said anges having opposed tape receiving slots extending outwardly from their inner edges, the end edges of the slots being notched to provide inwardly facing keepers. and a clamp member having downwardly oset upwardly facing U-shaped spring- 9. A bottom bar for Venetian blinds including slat suspending tapes comprising a bottom member of upwardly facing channel section and having inturned edge "flanges, said anges having tape receiving slotsftherein, a tape clamp ineinber disposed within ysaid bottom member and having springable f arms retainingly engaging within said fiangesffsaid clamp member being provided with opposed lugs and having a slot therein adapted to'freceive a. suspending cord, and a. top member -ldisposed upon said-bottom member and retainingly engaged by saidA lugs on said clamp member, said top member acting to prevent the disengagement of the suspending cord from said clamp member.

10. A bottom bar for Venetian blinds including slat suspending tapes comprising?. bottom member of upwardly facing channelY section and having inturned edge flanges, said kiariges having opposed tape receiving slots extending outwardly from their inner edges, and a` tape clamp member disposed within said bottomv member and having springable upwardly facing',U -shaped clamping arms retainingly engagingwithin said slots in said flanges with the bightsofthe arms in clamping engagement with tapes disposed. within said bottom member and through said slots.

GEORGE R. LIND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,260,726 Rosenbaum Oct. 28, 1941 2,391,904 Junkunc ;Jan. 1, 1946 2,485,217 Semilof Oct. 18, 1949 2,508,742 Bell May 23, 1950 2,529,229 Sherwood Nov. '7, 1950 

